Hatching eggs in Egg carton

[JenEric Farms]

I have seen several pictures where people have left hatching eggs in egg cartons inside the incubator. Does this keep them pipping at the top? Is it better than allowing them to roll all over the place as chicks hatch out and "trample" the other eggs?

Any negatives to leaving them in the carton?

 

[KinderKorner]

Yes it helps a lot. lol There is another post which is the same as this one that I just posted on. I will just copy and paste.

I hatch in an egg carton. I use the egg carton for the entire thing.

I have a flat carton that holds 30 eggs, it doesn't go up very high but I cut the bottons out for extra air.

It has eggs in it right now. But tomorrow I will clean it out and take some pictures to show you what I mean.

I just put a block under one side of the incubator, and switch sides 3 times a day.

It works the same as an auto-turner. You don't have to open the incubator, and it's cleaner and quicker.

I think you get the same hatch rates as the normal way. At least I have. Plus as the end it keeps the chicks from rolling the other eggs around which can mess up their pipping position and kill them.

I vote yes, on the carton method for the entire time.

 

[IggiMom]

Does it matter what kind of egg carton you use? Can it be styrofoam?

Catherine

 

[KinderKorner]

I actually think styrofoam is preferred, but I use cardboard. Just whatever you have laying around I guess. lol

Some people say the cardboard can suck up the water in the wells and raise the humidity too much. But I've never had that problem.

 

[roche477]

I use styrofoam cartons. The only downside to the carton method is if they pip at the wrong end it will be very difficult from them to get out.

 

[mcjerdensfarm]

I have thought about hatching in a carton because some of my shipped eggs have such wobbly air cells, but are still developing nicely. My problem is when I tilt my incubator it sloshes the water I have in it and makes my humidity go crazy. Any suggestions?

 

[roche477]

I don't use the water rings in mine. I use a small plastic container to put water in and it tilts fine and doesn't get water all over.

 

[mcjerdensfarm]

I didn't think about that--and you just add more containers to up the humidity. I will definitely try that. Thanks!

 

[roche477]

Quote:
That is exactly what I do!

 

[Chotii]

I need some help with mine. I only have cardboard egg cartons, but I did like you folks suggested and cut the bottoms out, etc.

Problem one: the Polish Crested eggs are about banty-sized, and really don't fit in this carton.

Problem two: the eggs don't seem to stay as warm?

Problem 3: the carton takes up more space in the incubator, which is teeny to begin with. I'm worried about what happens when they hatch (if they hatch) and there's nowhere for them to move around to?

Problem 4: I'm trying the tilt-with-a-block thing, but I'm unclear on the angle of tilt we're looking for. I tried a regular-sized bar of soap, which is what I happen to have around, and I can't see what difference it makes to the position of the eggs.

Problem 5: temperature spike, which I assume was because of the inside of the incubator having less air space? And I had the thing so stable, too. I don't recommend people add this in mid-incubation, but start with it or not use it at all.

I saw a BIG, thick-walled medical-stuff-type styrofoam ice chest at the thrift last week, and I should have bought the darn thing. The chests I have are tiny and aren't going to work for hatching, as far as I can tell, even if they incubate just fine.